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Your Words - We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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WALKING IN MADEIRA

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

What did you think of your group leader?

GROUP LEADER, ANDREAS, WAS EXCELLENT. OBVIOUSLY VERY PROUD OF HIS ISLAND. HE HAS GONE TO A LOT OF TROUBLE TO LEARN AS MUCH POSSIBLE ABOUT FLORA AND FAUNA.
HE WAS FUNNY AND ENTERTAINING THROUGHOUT.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I THINK THIS PARTICULAR EXODUS TRIP COULD BE IMPROVED BY REDUCING IT'S LENGTH BY ONE DAY.
WALKING SUNDAY TO THURSDAY AND FLYING HOME ON FRIDAY.
THE FREE DAY ON FRIDAY WAS SOMETHING OF AN ANTI-CLIMAX, ESPECIALLY AS WE AGAIN HAD TO KILL TIME ON SATURDAY UNTIL THE BUS LEFT EARLY AFTERNOON TO TAKE US TO THE AIRPORT.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU RARELY USE THE HOTEL IN WHICH WE STAYED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT, BUT, IN MY VIEW, IT WAS UNSUITABLE. IT IS IN A VERY ISOLATED SPOT, WITH NO CAFES, SHOPS, OR RESTAURANTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE HOTEL RESTAURANT HAD SOMETHING OF A NIGHTMARE ON THE THURSDAY EVENING DUE TO BEING EXTREMELY SHORT-STAFFED.

Stunning views, wonderful walks, excellent company

I'm just back from a fabulous week's walking in Madeira. The scenery, weather and company could not have been better. Thank you to Andre, our guide, for helping to make this week so successful. There was lots of laughter along with some strenuous walks set against the majestic background of mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. I highly recommend this trip.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

All the walks were completely different but the second day's walk was stunning covering both the mountains and the ocean and including the levadas. The drink at the end of the walk was a welcome reward in a bar set next to the ocean. Pretty perfect.

What did you think of your group leader?

Our group leader, Andre, was great. He was knowledgeable, fun to be with and always seemed to be aware of our safety needs without being intrusive. He clearly loves Madeira and managed to pass in this love to the group. The arrangements went smoothly and all transport and luggage transfers were seamless.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Go to Madeira!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

One of the walks was hard because of the climb up the mountain consisting of many flights of steps. Be aware of any personal limitations such as knee problems. The walks are considered of moderate difficulty but that one was tough and many of us felt it had been under graded. The views at the top, however, were worth it!

Madeira walking

The walks were well planned and we were lucky to have a well rounded and very pleasant group.
The first two days were rather "easy" but after that the walking took us further afield and we spent plenty of time off the beaten track in some wonderful landscapes. Overall I think the walking could have been a bit more challenging, overall only just a "moderate" walking grade.
The hotels were fairly modest, they were simple, but fine, twice there was no wi fi in the rooms though.
Funchal worth a visit in its own right.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The levada's are fascinating as well as unique, the walk along the Levada do Caldeirao Verde was really memorable and it was a glorious day.
The early rise for sun rise on Pico Ruivo and the walk to the summit and back down into the Nuns Valley to the hotel was the longest day and the best and the hotel has a stunning location - a really memorable "five star" day.

What did you think of your group leader?

Andre was very on top of his job, he planned and explained well and was always pleasant company with a well rounded knowledge of the island although perhaps with a bias towards flora and fauna, I'm not sure I picked up much about contemporary social and economic life on the island.

Walking in Madeira

Holiday was very good once in Madeira.
Booking and office support from Exodus UK was poor.
We paid a surcharge of over £300 pounds to get flights six months prior to departure.
There were people in our group who arrived later in the day that didn't pay any surcharges. We could have got a later flight also....
No one has come back to me about this after my first survey.
Also, Exodus don't have enough staff in the London office to even answer your phones.
Dreadfull in light of the money we your customer pay.
SORT IT OUT. That was my fourth holiday with Exodus, I doubt personally that I will book another in light of the London office. It's a shame you let all of your reps that are actually in front of your customers down. Learn the lesson.
Rob Rutter

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

See above

What did you think of your group leader?

See above

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Don't book via Exodus

Is there anything else you would like to add?

No

Reply from Exodus

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Rob for taking the time to provide us with feedback both on his holiday evaluation form (HEF) and in his review. Whilst HEFs are read by 2 members of staff, we endeavour to make it clear both in the email we send inviting clients to complete their HEFs, as well as at the end of the survey itself that due to the volume of feedback we receive, we are unable to respond on an individual basis to the comments our clients make. We do, as a result of this, provide an email address which clients are welcome to use if they would like to raise any specific concerns to our customer services team. We would like to apologise if this could be further clarified. Flight prices can vary quite significantly throughout the year and even when flights are booked early, sometimes a supplement can be applicable, as explained in our trip notes. We were pleased Rob enjoyed his time in Madeira, but we are nonetheless very sorry that he was disappointed with the support he received from Exodus prior to travel. – Marta Marinelli, Product Manager.

Madeira

This was my first Exodus Tour. It will not be my last. Organisation was great. The guide (Andre Pontes) was superb - he made sure that everyone was enjoying themselves and that everyone was safe. He has very good people skills, and was a font of knowledge.
I am 57 years old and moderately fit. The walking was just right for me.
The others in the group (we were 11) were a lovely bunch.
Madeira is beautiful.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Watching the sun rise from the top of a mountain

What did you think of your group leader?

General review

Everything was very good except the hotel near Encumeada which was expensive,had very poor staff, and no acoustic attenuation between rooms. In short wholly unsatisfactory.
For this reason Exodus does not get an Excellent rating

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The mountains

What did you think of your group leader?

Very good

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

One of the walks is very hard

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Find a better hotel near Encumeada. Cut down the number of hotel stops and use buses
2 hotels is quite enough in a week.

A beautiful island

Walking is a great way to see Madeira. The paths were in generally good condition, and the drops were not as daunting as I had expected - although you definitely need to look where you are going!
The weather in Madeira is much more localised than I had realised - if it's important to you, make sure you look at the forecast for specific places. The mountains were rainy, and colder than expected - be prepared for anything!
Most of the group went whalewatching in Funchal - this wasn't mentioned in the trip notes, but was great fun. No whales, but several dolphins - also a great way to get a view of Funchal from the water.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

I enjoyed all of the walking. The cherry blossom above Funchal was superb.

What did you think of your group leader?

Add me to the Andre fan club. Very sociable, generous with his time and knowledge. He had to substitute a couple of walks due to weather and rockslides, and we were not disappointed, even though we had been looking forward to the published itinerary. He's an excellent walking guide, well aware of everyone in the group.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Most of us used trekking poles, and were glad of them. Be prepared for anything - the weather is the boss of the itinerary.
Most of the hotels were very pleasant, one was slightly disappointing - but the obvious place to stay given the itinerary.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dramatic trekking in the mountains of Madeira

First time Exodus traveller and I was not disappointed. Madeira was every bit as beautiful as I had hoped: sea vistas (with huge waves on our Day 2 coastal walk), exotic flora and fauna, and at times, dizzying mountain heights that take your breath away. People in our group of 12 were delightfully friendly and supportive. Excellent leadership on this trip. Overall, a very satisfying travel experience.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

walking the cliffs on the northern coast with a raging sea below

What did you think of your group leader?

Andre, our leader, is a native of Madeira and he was very generous with his knowledge of the history, culture and nature of his beloved homeland. As others have commented, he has a wonderful sense of humour, is very effective in bringing the group together, and went out of his way to check in with each member of the group to ensure that they were safe and content.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Given the heights and some the slippery conditions (we had several days of rain), trekking poles indispensable. Need to be prepared for changes in itinerary (we had two days that were changed) as the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable (ie. cold, wet, fog). Fortunately our leader had good back up plans.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Accommodation was comfortable. Breakfasts however, were very uneven - some excellent with hot buffets, others really on the skimpy side which wasn't ideal when you had many hours of hiking ahead.

A fun week despite stormy weather!

I very much enjoyed my week in Madeira, despite having 'Storm Emma' lash us for days. It's a beautiful island, with great views. We saw wild canaries, firecrests, blackcaps, lizards and lots of lovely flowers as we walked. Unfortunately the storms made some of the planned itinerary, such as the highest peak, impossible. So guide Andre had to invent more sheltered walks for us, and we managed 4 days walking instead of the planned 5, which was pretty good in the circumstances.
Andre was great, all the hotels were nice, and the group (full at 16) were all good fun. I'll definitely go back - in the summer!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The one sunny day, and out walk along the cliffs of the north coast.

What did you think of your group leader?

Andre was great: knowledgeable and funny.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Don't expect great weather. I think we were very unlucky, but it's known to be changeable in general.

A great holiday

A really good trip, the walking is fairly easy going as the levadas have only a slight incline/decline. The hardest bit is getting to the start point or descending to get the bus. Sometimes the path is narrow without a handrail but we all managed fine.
The trip is good as it moves around the island. No two days were the same so there was good variety.